On Tap: ‘Chocolate Factory’ plays at Stage Right

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Stage Right Conservatory Theatre
Emma Jacobs, from left, stars as Willy Wonka, Owen Loyd as Charlie Bucket and Cody Quinnell as Grandpa Joe in Stage Right Conservatory Theatre’s production of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”

ANTIOCH

Stage Right presents ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’

Stage Right Conservatory Theatre Inc. presents “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” this weekend at the Nick Rodriguez Community Center, 213 F St.

The play is produced by special arrangement with The Dramatic Publishing Company and dramatized by Richard R. George. The classic fantasy based on the book by Roald Dahl is directed by Rio Teixeira and is fun for all ages.

Remaiing performance dates for “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” are April 27-28 at 7 p.m. and April 29 at 2 p.m. Adult tickets cost $10, $8 for students and seniors, $5 for children. Seniors pay only $5 on Sunday matinees. For more information, call 925-216-4613 or visit www.srctgrp.org.

Antioch Model Railroad Club Spring open house set

The Black Diamond Lines Model Railroad Club will host its annual Spring Open House and Swap Meet from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 28-29.

Children of all ages and sizes are invited to see the new layout conversion that lets staff run trains with smartphones. The clubhouse is at 425 Fulton Shipyard Road. For more information, visit www.blackdiamondlines.com or call 925-779-1964.

Carole King songs to be performed at El Campanil

The Rhythm Method 4 will present an array of songs from songstress Carole King at 3 p.m. April 29 at El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St.

The “You’ve Got a Friend” concert is a celebration of one of the most prolific songwriters of the 1960s and 1970s. King’s hits include memorable classics like Aretha Franklin’s “Natural Woman,” The Drifters’ “Up on the Roof,” and The Shirelles’ “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.”

​The show will also honor songs from her best-selling, four-time Grammy Award-winning album “Tapestry,” including “So Far Away,” “It’s Too Late,” “I Feel the Earth Move” and “You’ve Got a Friend.”

The Rhythm Method 4 is a group of four musicians who perform regularly throughout the Bay Area.

History museum’s Celebration of Art set to open May 5

The 13th annual Celebration of Art will run May 5-24 at the Antioch Historical Society Museum, 1500 W. Fourth St.

Art and history merge at the museum for this collaboration between the Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch and the Antioch Historical Society to showcase art from up to 60 local artists. Artists will display their work in many mediums, including watercolor, acrylic, clay, mixed media and more.

The exhibit opens May 5 with an artists’ reception from 2 to 4 p.m. The art show, along with the rest of the displays in the museum, will be available to view during the exhibit. The artists’ reception, along with the entry to the exhibits, are free to the public. The Antioch Historical Society Museum is open Wednesday and Saturday, 1-4 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, go to art4antioch.org/Events-More.asp or email Diane@Art4Antioch.org or call 925-325-9897.

PITTSBURG

Los Medanos Gospel Celebration Concert set for May 5

This concert will feature special guest performer Keisha Renee from Nashville, a celebrity vocalist and top contender from the TV show “The Voice.” She has performed with the nation’s most-noted gospel and rhythm & blues artists, including superstars Nicki Minaj, Adam Lambert and Jill Scott. Also, Shante Herring, A BET Super Bowl gospel performer, will be a special musical guest.

The theme of the concert is “The Celebration and Achievement of Diverse Males in Higher Education.” During this event three professionals will be honored with the “Celebration of Diversity Award:” Dr. Edward Bush, president, Consumnes River College — Los Rios Community College District; Kayton Carter, director of UC Davis Strategic African-American Retention Initiatives; and Paul Ramirez, wage and hour investigator with the Department of Labor in San Francisco.

Tickets are $20 in advance, $22 at the door. Email shenderson@losmedanos.edu or call 925-565-6107 or 925-473-7803.

PCT troupe presents ‘Next to Normal’ at California Theatre

Pittsburg Community Theatre on April 27-29 will present the award-winning musical “Next to Normal” at the California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave.

Dianna Schepers directs this play, which centers on a suburban household coping with mental illness, among other issues. The show stars Bobbie Barlow, Keith Barlow, Melissa Marie and Christian Castillo. Mark Dietrich directs the six-piece band.

LIVERMORE

‘Under Construction’ to open May 4 at Las Positas

Las Positas College will present “Under Construction,” a play about the American past and present by Charles Mee.

Performances are May 4-12 on the LPC campus at the Mertes Center for the Arts Black Box Theater. “Under Construction” is produced by LPC Theater Arts Faculty & Performing Arts Coordinator Tishian Lish and directed by Peet Cocke.

“Under Construction” is a fascinating look at America, a patchwork of many vignettes that explore moments in time from the 1950s to now, each focusing on something different from American facts to American myths, from political to cultural, the idealistic to the artistic. The play portrays different themes of American life in scenes, monologue and song. As Mee describes it, “Under Construction” is a “collage of America, an America of the 1950s and now, the red states and the blue states, where we grew up and where we live today, a piece that is, like America, permanently under construction.”

“Under Construction” will make its debut at LPC on May 4 at 8 p.m. Other showtimes include 8 p.m. performances on May 5, 11, and 12, and 2 p.m. matinees on May 6 and May 12.

The Mertes Center for the Arts Black Box Theater is on the campus of Las Positas College, 3000 Campus Hill Drive in Livermore. Tickets are available at the door. General Admission: $15; Students, Staff and Seniors: $10 and may include a service charge for both online and in-person purchase between $1-3 per ticket. For more information, visit laspositascollege.edu/performingarts.

BRENTWOOD

Artists needed for Banner Up! program’s second year

Brentwood’s popular Banner Up! program is back for a second year and is looking for local artists to participate.

Originally designed and painted banners will fly from lamp posts throughout downtown Brentwood from mid-June through August. They will be exhibited inside the Brentwood Community Center during September and finally showcased and sold Oct. 12 at a gala benefit auction. Proceeds from the banner sales will be split 50-50 between the artists and the Brentwood Library Foundation.

Interested artists are invited to pick up a blank banner at Delta Gallery in the Streets of Brentwood on May 5 or 6 between noon and 4 p.m. There is no charge for the banner and no entry fee, but banners are limited, so only the first 69 artists may participate. Completed banners must be turned in at Delta Gallery on June 2 or 3 between noon and 4 p.m.

The Banner Up! program is sponsored by the city of Brentwood, Economic Development, Brentwood Arts Commission, the Art Guild of the Delta and Delta Gallery. For complete participation guidelines and entry information, visit www.deltagallery.com/art-guild-of-the-delta.html. Questions may be directed to Mary Lamb at mary@deltagallery.com.

Gallery hosts California Watercolor Association show

Delta Gallery will host “Personal Journeys,” an exhibit of work by members of the California Watercolor Association through April 28. The exhibit will showcase watercolor, gouache, acrylic and mixed-media paintings spanning a wide variety of themes and styles. Most of the artists live in Northern California, but several out-of-state artists are also participating.

The California Watercolor Association is one of the largest and most active regional watermedia organizations in the country. In addition to hosting exhibits, events, demonstrations and workshops the group offers art outreach in the public schools, programs for veterans and student scholarships. Delta Gallery is in The Streets of Brentwood, 2485 Sand Creek Road, Suite 128 in Brentwood. For more information, call 925-516-5935 or visit www.DeltaGallery.com.

City seeks proposals for its Utility Box Mural Project

The city of Brentwood and the Arts Commission have invited artists to submit proposals for its Utility Box Mural Project.

Artists are being sought to showcase their work on 16 utility boxes located throughout Brentwood. The theme of the project will be playful, original and visually engaging for all ages. This call for artists is open to all adult and student practicing artists. It is also open to art teachers that are interested in mentoring a group of students. All entries must be an original design and artwork of the entrant and must be suitable for viewing by all ages.

Application packets are available at the Brentwood Community Center front desk, 35 Oak St. or you can download the application packet at www.brentwoodca.gov/gov/parks. The deadline is 4 p.m. May 4.

PLEASANTON

Jinx Jones Jazz Trio to play April 28 at Inklings Coffee

Red Legged Frog Productions presents the Jinx Jones Jazz Trio at 7 p.m. April 28 at Inklings Coffee and Tea, 530 Main St.

Jinx is a musician’s musician and has played with Chuck Berry, Roy Buchanan and Solomon Burke. He has earned gold and platinum record awards with R&B divas En Vogue. Jinx’s Jazz Trio performs instrumental jazz standards from the days of Miles Davis, Wes Montgomery, and Benny Goodman among others.

The trio’s drummer, Ken Owen, is noted for his work with such luminaries as Emmy Lou Harris, Peter Rowan, Jim Lauderdale, Buddy Miller, Nina Gerber and Bobby Black. In the jazz trio Ken brings his expressive sensibilities on drums and bongos as driver of the rhythm section and as a soloist.

Trio bassist John Clark is a seasoned veteran of the San Francisco and national jazz scene. Among John’s many accomplishments, he is also a faculty member/instructor for the Stanford University Jazz Workshop.

WALNUT CREEK

Wizards Basketball event to raise money for charity

The Harlem Wizards show basketball team will compete against teachers and administrators from Mount Diablo Unified School District schools in an April 29 fundraiser for JFK University’s Life Enhancement through Athletic Participation Program.

The event, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Northgate High School, will include tricks, coordinated ball handling, dunks and aerodynamic athleticism combined with comedy and audience interaction.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the Solt Evans LEAP Program, which helps underserved youth gain important life skills through sport psychology mental skills, as well as the Northgate High School Athletics Department.

Advance tickets are $18 for students ($20 at the door), $22 for general admission ($25 at the door). Purchase tickets at www.jfku.edu/wizards.

Judith Prieve is an East Bay journalist. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she has worked as a reporter, features editor and assistant metro editor at newspapers in Wisconsin and Northern California and has been at what is now the Bay Area News Group for more than 25 years.